Problems with SMRs

This Böll EU Brief critically assesses the prospects of small modular

reactors (SMRs) in Europe. It finds that most SMR designs remain in early
development, lack regulatory approval in the EU, and are unlikely to
deliver electricity at scale before 2050. Technical, economic and political
challenges – including high costs, unresolved waste management,
proliferation risks and heterogeneous designs – undermine claims of rapid
deployment and cost reductions. The authors conclude that prioritising
renewables, storage and electrification is a more credible pathway for
timely decarbonisation. Based on current evidence and development status,
SMRs are unlikely to provide a meaningful contribution to European energy
system decarbonisation within a relevant timeframe. Instead, continued
attention towards their potential benefits will decellerate the necessary
transformation of the energy system even further. New designs do not
fundamentally mitigate the inherent challenges associated with nuclear
power, namely waste management, proliferation risks and high cost.

 Heinrich Boll (accessed) 6th March 2026 

 https://eu.boell.org/en/small-modular-reactors